Threshold



(N0 Mot lei.)

J. JOHNSTON.

THRESHOLD.

1%.. 340,510. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JOSEPH JOHNSTON, OF HUDSON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN ERVVIN, OF KINNIGKINNIGK, IVISCONSIN.

THRESHOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,510, dated April 20, 1886. Application tiled November 23, 1885. Serial No.163,fi88. (No modeLl To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hudson, in the county of St. (Jroix and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thresholds, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements consist in a threshold the base port-ion of which is divided longitudinally and provided with a seat for a rubber packing-tube. The upper edges of the base are extended suff ciently over the tube,

or the base is sufficiently hollowed out under said edges, to insure the retention of the tube after it has been inserted, with the aid of slight compression. A similar compression of the tube will enable itto be slightly turned to present a new wearing surface onthe part extending above the level of the base. or to be removed when it is necessary to replace it with a new one. The two halves of the base are alike, and may besawed down to the right length to suit any entrance when necessary, a packing-tube of the requisite length and diameter being inserted after the strips forming the base are fastened down. The strips may be adjusted to and from each other, to compress the packingtube or allow it to expand, so as to fit snugly against the bottom of the door, as well in the first instance as when slightly worn. The wooden portion of the threshold, which would be expohed to wear, may be protected by a metallic covering, so as to further prolong the usefulness of the threshold.

In order that the invention may be better understood I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a plan view of my improved threshold; and Figs. II to IV, inclusive, are transverse sections of various forms thereof.

The strips 1 2, forming the base of the threshold, are preferably of wood, as shown in Figs. I to H1, or of wood covered with metal platesB, for protection from wear; as shown in Fig. IV. The two strips are alike in form,

andmay be cut from the same dressed stick. Their upper surfaces are curved in customary manner, and are provided with grooves or longitudinal cut-away portions 4, hollowed out under the surface of the base, so that when the strips are placed together, as shown, a seat will be provided whose greatest diameter or width will be below the top of the threshold. A rubber tube, 5,'is inserted in this undercut seat by being slightly compressed. IVhen in place, it will expand and fill or nearly fill its seat, and thus be retained.

The seat may be of such form and size as to be entirely filled by the tube when in posit-ion, or spaces may be allowed on both sides, as shown in Figs. III and IV, for the rubber to enter when compressed by the weight of the door or other object.

It will be readily seen that by adjusting the strips 1 2 to and from each other, or tipping up their outer ends, not only may the threshold be adapted to any particular position, but the packing-tube may be more or less compressed, to make it fill the space between the threshold and the bottom ofthe door when the latter is closed.

The tube being placed loosely in its seat, it

may be readily turned therein to presenta new surface when one part is worn, or by slightly compressing it it may be withdrawn for the substitution Ofa new tube.

The strips 1 2 may be fixed directly to the sill or floor. or may be fastened together by end plates, 6, of wood or metal.

I am aware that it has been proposed to employ rubber tubing for forming weatherstrips, and do not claim such, broadly, as my invention; nor do I claim in this application a threshold or weather-strip formed of two sections or strips of wood with a strip of packing material secured between them.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a threshold, the combination, with a base having an undercut seat, of a packingtube occupying said seat and projecting above the surface of the base, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a threshold, in combination with a two-part base, metal protectingplates covering said base, a-longitudinal seat cut in said base at its central dividing-line, and a packing-tube inserted in said seat, substantially a and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN S. SANBORN, FREDERICK Anne. 

